Monday, 18 March 2013

Consumer Day 2013

Many countries around the world commemorate 15 March as the
World Consumer Day. This day has a historic importance as it was on this day
1962, when the Bill for Consumer Rights was moved in the US Congress.

This year, the theme of World Consumer Day is “Consumer
Justice Now”. As Namibians we must push for our legislature to put in place a
CPA as soon as possible as good consumer protection is not only about
legislation, but it can also deliver justice, create a fairer society and even
save lives. The United Nations Guidelines for Consumer Protection (UNGCP) act
as an international reference point of the consumer movement and can be
understood to be

•
the right to the satisfaction of basic needs

•
the right to safety

•
the right to be informed

•
the right to choose

•
the right to be heard

•
the right to redress

•
the right to consumer education

•
the right to a healthy environment.

Namibia Consumer Trust, the only registered non-governmental
organization and only Namibian member of Consumers International (CI)
commemorates World Consumer Rights Day. Head of Consumers International Africa
office, Minister of Trade and Industry as well as the Governor of Bank of
Namibia are scheduled speakers.

The event is scheduled to be held at the Habitat Research
& Development Centre, Claudius Kandovazu str, Katutura (next to A Shipena
Sec. School) in Windhoek.

This year, the Namibia Consumer Protection Group (a lobby
group and supporter of consumer activism) is asking people around the country
to buy on 15 March 2013 a litre milk everywhere in Namibia, and then please
post on website the price they paid and the store where they bought it. Perhaps
we can we create awareness why we need a Consumer Protection Law and we can all
see to what in-fluxed prices and irregularities exist in our own land of the
brave. The idea is that every time you buy a litre of milk, you visit the
webpage http://www.namibiamilk.com/
and upload your details.

The page will continue to operate for the next year to allow
us to correlate data on what consumer throughout the country are being charged
for this basic necessity.

Remember its easy, "You can report the price of milk
online. Simply go to www.namibiamilk.com and click on the 'submit a report' button.
Alternatively find us on Facebook by searching for Namibia Milk Price Day".

It is important that consumer in Namibia should start
demanding their rights. The way it is going at present, we are simply made
promises and none of them are being kept.

As an example, three years ago, on 15 March 2010 (World
Consumer Day), the then Minister of Trade and Industry, Honourable Hage
Geingob, promised in a speech read on his behalf that a Consumer Protection Act
will be submitted to Parliament within one year. Since then Dr. Geingob has
moved on to become the Right Honourable Prime Minister and is poised to become
our next President in 2015. With Consumer Day again being celebrated on 15
March this year, there is however still no sign of the promised Consumer
Protection Act (CPA).